My Surgeon has a warm, reassuring smile calculated to diffuse the awkwardness of discussing “Wimmin’s Troubles”. His smile strikes a soothing subconscious chord. It bids you relax, reminds you that he really has heard it all before. I was looking forward to his visit, and the news that I could go home from Hospital tomorrow. Imagine then, my dismay as a grave, professional mask slipped over the Fatherly smile as he read the Pathology report; “We have found a sarcoma”

I had to make this about six times before I managed to get a photo. The original version is slow-cooked in the oven, something I rarely have time to do, so I have included both the cheats and portion-for-one versions below. It’s a sweet, tangy dish with a hidden surprise.

The lemon slices caramelize and take on an intense flavour that had the Junior Sorority puckering their faces (and me gleefully claiming all the rejected morsels). If there are likely to be Greek Tragedies in your home, leave out the lemon slices and increase the juice a little. Similarly if the inclusion of spinach will cause rioting in the streets, use beans or snowpeas.

Kecap manis is a thick, sweet soy sauce from Indonesia available from either a good Asian food retailer or your local supermarket.

Welcome

This blog started its life as a chunk of data for my Beloved to work the arcane magic he calls “Web Development”. Through several incarnations (and many, many re-edits), my ramblings about food, plants, herb-lore and stuff have sort of .. grown. So I bid you welcome to my garden, my kitchen and my workshop. Take a load off, sip some tea and bide a while.